Pertino Takes NFV to the Cloud with New Apps & Big Data

Network Functions Virtualization (NFV) has changed the way we look at networking, eliminating the dependence on specialized, proprietary hardware. Pertino is taking NFV to the cloud with its Network Service Virtualization (NSV) technology, eradicating not only the need for hardware appliance, but software as well.

Today, the company is expanding its cloud-based network services with a set of four new apps that add more visibility, security, and functionality to Pertino's private cloud networks. What's more, the company has added a big data backend, which captures metadata in the cloud, to support the new AppScape apps. Read:Intro to Software Defined Networking & OpenFlow

Pertino is targeting mid-market customers with distributed workforces, simplifying the deployment of private cloud networks and services, with a low cost of entry solution, Todd Krautkremer, Pertino's chief marketing officer told Tom's IT Pro in an interview. Similar to other software defined networking (SDN) offerings, Pertino provides a centralized view of the distributed network; but unlike other SDN products, the software stack is in the cloud.

"For large enterprises, [VMware's] NSX and [Cisco's] ACI might be the better option," said Krautkremer, "but you have to build the environment. Pertino is more like AWS, where you can subscribe to the services but no hardware or software component is required, since it's a cloud-based service."

With Pertino's Cloud Network Engine and the accompanying network service apps, IT departments can deploy cloud networks and services instantly, when and where they're needed.

Pertino has added big data analytics "to support AppScape apps that require deep packet analysis and correlation at massive-scale such as application-level flow and threat analysis," according to the release notes. The company is leveraging AWS Kinesis and Redshift to make this possible. The four new AppScape apps which are available today include:

Pertino ADConnectNameStation -- allows IT admins to assign personalized names to devices, instead of using IP addresses, which simplifies administration.

Pertino NameStationGeoView Pro -- tracks and maps the location of devices so lost or stolen devices can be easily located and "wiped" from the network.

Pertino GeoView ProComing in Q4 of 2014, the company will be releasing the Pertino Desktop app, which allows end users to access their desktops remotely from any device, and to do so securely. On the IT side, the Pertino Desktop app will allow administrators to provide remote support of the connected devices.

"Businesses are embracing the hybrid IT model as more of their workforce, work applications and workloads rely on public Internet connectivity. This represents a 180 degree pivot in form and function from traditional WANs," said Bharath Rangarajan, vice president of product at Pertino. "Our Cloud Network Engine and AppScape strategy bring together the platform and partnerships for delivering service-rich private overlay networks with the visibility, security and control that larger IT organizations are accustomed to."